What it does
JJG Vocals is the toolbox I reach for on every vocal. In my own sessions, a whole lineup of plugins and hardware sits there switched off, and I flip them on and off until I hear what the vocal needs. JJG Vocals puts that toolbox in one window, just a lot faster: preamp, tape, compressor, EQ, de-esser, Salt enhancer and output, in signal order. Every module has its own power switch, one main knob, and a plate at the top that picks its circuit. The plate names (511, 73, 76, 2A, 37 and so on) are our shorthand for the character of each voicing, inspired by classic studio gear. Switch modules in and out, pick the circuits, turn the knob, done. The whole rack recolours to match what you chose. Each circuit was painstakingly modeled from real hardware to get the best sound possible. Silly designs, serious sounds. It was built for vocals, but people are running drums, bass, guitars and synths through it too, so try those in the player above. Like a console channel, JJG Vocals has a sound of its own, on by default even with every module switched off. New in 1.1.2, the BOX SOUND switch in the OUTPUT module turns it off when you want a clean rack, and the MIX knob blends in the untouched take when you want a little less. New in 1.2.0, a free update out Monday, Nov 16: MB COMP, a multiband compressor that sits under SALT. Pick a flavor, Plain, Wheat, Poppy, Sesame or Jalapeño, and turn one AMOUNT knob. 5 is each flavor as designed. You can play with it in the player above now; today’s download is 1.1.2. Own JJG Vocals and you also get JJG Drive, the preamp and tape on their own, free.
- NEW MB COMP (free update, Monday, Nov 16): a multiband compressor with five flavors and one AMOUNT knob
- Made for vocals, great on drums, bass, guitars and synths
- Four preamps, four tape machines, five compressor modes, two de-essers, two Salt curves
- One DRIVE knob for preamp and tape together, with AUTO GAIN
- HQ mode: 4x oversampling that removes aliasing on the hardest-driven modes, like a pushed TG preamp or Cassette tape. Made for mixing and bouncing
- THD switch: on, the EQ adds the harmonics a real console adds, more as you work the shelves. Off, you get the same curves with no added color
- BOX SOUND switch: on is the sound JJG Vocals has always had, off makes it neutral, so with every module off the vocal passes through untouched
- LOW LAT tracking mode, STEREO / MONO, A/B with COPY, undo
- Presets, dark mode, resizable
- Includes a Lucas Arens preset pack, with more on the way from today’s top producers and mixers
- JJG Drive included free for JJG Vocals owners
The modules
Specs
“JJG Vocals has been saving me time every day. What I used to do with 6 plugins I can now do with one, and it sounds amazing.”
“JJG Vocals channel strip is amazing! Easy enough for a quick recording chain but with enough clarity and dimension for a final mix.”
“To quote Phil Rosenthal’s dad Max: “I like Salt, ok?!” A plugin I didn’t know I needed badly. Also, as an outspoken hater of a certain vocal plugin, I welcome JJG Vocals as a much needed improvement upon the old.”
“I’m absolutely LOVING the Pizza Bagel plugins. I am always on the hunt for plugins that give instant vibe with little effort, and these nail it. JJG Vocals has instantly become a part of my arsenal.”
“A great vocal sound shouldn’t have to come at the expense of creative momentum. JJG gets me to a finished-sounding vocal incredibly quickly, allowing me to spend less time dialing things in and more time focusing on the performance and the music.”
“I’m a huge preset then tinker guy. JJG Vocals has become a great alternative to my previous vocal chain. Having everything in one place has been a huge life saver!”
“Put JJG Vocals on the track, smile. Click a few times, smile more. Move on.”
“I love freedom and creativity with vocal production and that requires different foundational chains to build off. In the past, I would change them a lot, but with JJG the tools are unique and consistent in a way I haven’t accessed before. The workflow is inspiring, intuitive and fun.”
“JJG Vocals is my new go-to for a polished, pop vocal sound and is the only three-letter-acronym plugin in my sessions.”
“JJG Vocals recognizes and streamlines what we need to get a vocal sitting right while we’re recording it. It lets me dial in and monitor vocal sounds in a few seconds, which is key to my vocal production workflow.”
“I’ve been looking for a refresh on my vocal processing for close to a year now. Been reaching for the same tools but deep down wanted something fresh workflow-wise. JJG has not only made vocal processing fun but so much more efficient to get the sounds I want without opening multiple plugins.”
